Sanya Richards speeding to the Beijing Summer Games 400-meter competition

(BEIJING, July 4) -- Sanya Richards seized first place on the American Olympic team by running the 400-meter qualifying race in 49.89 seconds.

That will bring her to the Olympics for the second time when Beijing hosts the Games starting August 8.

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, she took the gold medal in the 4x400m relay.

Sanya Richards was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but moved to the US at the age of 12, and now competes internationally for the United States.

On her official web site at http://www.sanyarichards.net, Sanya Richards is billed as "The Fastest 400m Woman in U.S. History."

"She's fast, professional, beautiful and ready to have you watch her run with her website," the site says. "Renowned for her ability to challenge a speeding bullet, Sanya Richards is the youngest woman ever to break the elusive 49-second barrier at 400 meters."

In the US qualifying race for the Olympics 400-meter competition on Friday, Wineberg placed second at 50.85 seconds and Dee Dee Trotter finished third in 50.88 seconds.